Writing instrument

ABSTRACT

An ink writing instrument has a fibre-tipped writing point in communication with a wick-like ink reservoir housed in the instrument body, which also encloses another ink reservoir holding a reserve supply of ink, for emptying into the first ink reservoir when the latter is exhausted, emptying of the reserve ink reservoir being achieved by pushing inwardly a slidably mounted plunger which protrudes from the body, the position of the plunger outside the body indicating whether or not the reserve ink reservoir has been emptied.

"United States Patent [191' Kreuzer 1 June 25, 1974 1 1 WRITINGINSTRUMENT [76] Inventor: Erwin Kreuzer, Am Schlossbach 40,

5300 Bonn-Rottgen, Germany [22] Filed: Feb. 9, 1973 [21] Appl. No.:331,043

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Feb. 21, 1972 Germany 2208111[52] US. Cl 401/151, 401/198, 401/199 [51] Int. CL; B43k 5/10, B43k 8/00[58] Field of Search 401/151, 198, 199, 223,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Silver Bross Bross Wiener401/133 X 3,399,020 8/1968 Margolis et a1. 401/198 X FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS 1,231,132 12/1966 Germany 401/135 Primary Examiner-CharlesLawrence Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Lilling & Siege] [5 7] ABSTRACT 9Claims, 3 Drawing Figures WRITING INSTRUMENT This invention relates toink writing instruments, particularly, but not exclusively, those havingwriting tips enclosing capillary cavities or channels communicating withan ink reservoir such as wick housed in the body of the instrument. I

The writing tip of a writing instrument, frequently referred to brieflyas a fibre-tipped pen, may consist of a porous nylon body. The wick-likeink reservoir tov which the writing tip is connected may consist of feltor the like. I

Fibre-tipped pens are frequently throw-away instruments which arediscarded when the ink reservoir has been exhausted. A substantialdisadvantage of all throw-away writing instruments, be they fibre-tippedor ballpoint pens is that one cannot easily perceive when they havealready or are about to run out of writing fluid. Very frequently, suchemptying occurs just when the writing instrument is needed and noreplacement is available. I

A number of proposals are already known for provid-' ing ink writinginstruments with a separate ink reservoir or container holding a reserveof ink in readiness to allow continued use of the instrument for sometime after the ink contained in the main reservoir has been consumed.Emptying the reserve container for continued writing has necessitated aninitial step of opening the body of the writing instrument before theuser can gain access to the reserve container and bring its con-- tentsinto use. This is not only troublesome, but the cost of manufacturingthe body of the writing instrument is substantially increased. This isbecause the body must be composed of two precisely worked parts matchedexactly to one another dimensionally so as to be releasably engageable,the two parts may be interconnected for example by screwing themtogether. Such costly measures are therefore not very suitable forapplication in throw-away writing instruments, which should beparticularly cheap. Known writing instruments with a reserve inkcontainer also have the inherent disadvantage that one can onlyestablish whether the supply of ink in the reserve container has alreadybeen taken into use by opening the body.

According to the present invention, there is provided a writinginstrument comprising a body having a writing tip at one end andcontaining an ink reservoir communicating with the writing tip forsupplying ink thereto, a second reservoir inside the body containing areserve supply of ink for use when the first reservoir is exhausted, andan operating plunger element which is movably mounted in the body and isoperable from the exterior thereof to cause the second reservoir todischarge its contents into the first reservoir. Further according tothe present invention, there is provided a writing instrument having abody containing an ink reservoir wick communicating with capilliarypassages of element, whether or not the second reservoir has been V 2discharged, and therefore whether the instrument is almost spent.

The externally operable plunger of a fibre-tipped pen embodying theinvention is preferably operated simply by pushing but could, instead,be advanced inwardly by a rotary action. The element can additionally beprovided with an visible indication, for example a mark, which shows theinitial position of the operating element and thereby makes it readilydiscernible to the user whether or not the reserve of ink has been takeninto use.

In a preferred constructional form of the invention, the secondreservoir is a wick or felt or the like which is arranged to belongitudinally slidable in response to operating the plunger intocontact with element at a distance behind the first reservoir. If, afterthe first reservoir connected to the writing tip has been exhaustedthrough writing, the operating element is pushed forward, that istowards the writing tip, then the second or spare reservoir is broughtinto contact with the first or main reservoir, so that the latter canabsorb the ink from the spare reservoir and can continue supplying inkto the writing tip. In order to accelerate the transfer of the ink fromthe spare reservoir to the main reservoir, the main reservoiradvantageously has a greater capillarity than the spare reservoir, whichcan be achieved, for example, by the fibre density being lower in thespare reservoir than in the main reservoir.

In order to prevent unintentional, premature emptying of the sparereservoir, the operating plunger element, may be locked in its initial,ready position such that it can be actuated only when a predeterminedforce is exerted thereon. For example, the plunger element may beprevented from moving inadvertently by a part of the body of the writinginstrument conforming closely to, or mating with, the said element,there being provided in this part of the body a predetermined breakingpoint at which the part breaks away on forcing the operating elementinwardly.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference tothe embodiments illustrated in the drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a fibre-tipped pen according to the in vention'in which theink reservoir designed to hold the reserve of ink is in the form of awick slidable or displaceable by means of the operating element;

FIG. 2 shows a constructional form with a reservoir wick for the reserveof ink which is fixed immovably in the body of the pen;

FIG. 3 shows a constructional form in which the reserve of ink is in aliquid-charged pad.

Each pen illustrated in the drawings is fibre-tipped pen having aconical or tapered end containing a bore in which is fixed, in a mannerknown per se, a capillary writing tip 2. The inner or rear end of thetip 2 is embedded in a reservoir wick 3 composed of felt or some otherfibrous material with a capacity for ink storage. The reservoir wick 3is' supported at its front end nearest the tip 2 against a shoulder 1'of the body. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the opposite, rear endof the reservoir wick 3 bears against an annular shoulder 4' on theinside of a plastics ring 4 forced into the body l. The internal bore ofthe ring 4 is stepped to form the annular shoulder 4' and its end remotefrom the reservoir wick 3 encloses the front end of a reservoir wick 5designed to hold a reserve of ink. The rear part of the wick 5 is guidedfor sliding movement in an internal bore of an insert element 6 which isforced into the open rear end of the body 1. Moreover, in the insertelement 6 there is a push pin 7, the rear end of which projects from theinsert element 6 by an amount corresponding at least to the distancebetween the rear end of the reservoir wick 3 and the front end of thereservoir wick 5. The push pin 7 has a collar 8 extending into a groove9 in the insert element 6. The push pin 7 consists of a comparativelyeasily deformable and preferably springy material which makes itpossible to push it with accompanying deformation of the collar 8 intothe internal bore of the insert element 6 until the collar 8 catches inthe groove 9. Owing to the mating engagement of the collar 8 in thegroove 9, the push pin 7 is secured against any unintentional, prematureinward movement. However, the deformable nature of the pin 7 makes itpossible for a sufficiently large force applied to the end of the pin 7to overcome the resistance to inward movement thereof created by thecollar 8 and groove 9. Instead of the mating locking of the push pin 7which is shown here, its peripheral surface may be ccmented to theinternal bore of the insert element 6, provided it is possible for thebond to be ruptured.

If the reservoir wick 3 has been exhausted through writing, thereservoir wick containing the reserve ink can be pushed forward byforcing the push pin 7 inwardly until the front end of the wick 5 comesinto contact with the rear end of the reservoir wick 3, which thereafterabsorbs the reserve ink from the reservoir wick 5 in consequence ofcapillary action and passes it on to the writing tip 2. The forced-inpushed pin 7 indicates that the supply of ink is now running out andcomplete exhaustion of the writing instrument must soon be expected.

The different shading of the two reservoir wicks is in tended toindicate that the fibre density of the reservoir wick 3, the size of thecapillary passages between the fibres and, consequently, its capillaryaction are greater than the fibre density of the reservoir wick 5 andits capillary action.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the rear end of the reservoir wick 3is supported against an inwardlytumed rim 6 at the front or innermostend'of the insert element 6, in which the reservoir wick 5 for thereserve of ink is so arranged that it is fixed immovably by the rim 6'and is held thereby at a certain distance from the rear end of thereservoir wick 3. The push pin 7 is so held in the insert element 6 bycementing that it can be pushed inwardly from its position shown in thedrawing into the interior of the body only by the application of apredetermined force. In this case, the reservoir wick 5 is compressed,so that it releases the supply of ink contained in it and this isabsorbed by the exhausted reservoir wick 3 and passed on to the writingtip 2.

In the embodiment in FIG. 3, the rear end of the reservoir wick 3 isheld in a plastic ring 4 forced into the body 1. The ring 4 has an endface remote from the reservoir wick 3 which is in the form of a conicaldepression which opens into a throughflow orifice 4". In the chamberformed between the ring 4 and the insert element 6 there is apressurized liquid pad 10 containing a reserve supply ofink. A push pin7 is held in the insert element 6, the pin 7 being displaceablelongitudinally pushed sufficiently hard to overcome a predeterminedretaining force. The lower or inner end of the push pin 7 has a sharppoint 11. If, after the ink reservoir 3 has been exhausted, the push pin7 is forced inwardly into the body of the pen, a weak point is producedby the penetration of the point 11 into the pad 10 and causes the pad toburst immediately owing to the internal excess pressure. The escapingink then flows into the space 12 surrounding the pad 10 and out of thisspace through the orifice 4" of the ring 4 into the reservoir wick 3. Inthis embodiment, for the purpose of producing a sealing effect betweenthe push pin 7 and the insert element 6, a special seal 13 is formed,which seal, for example, may consist of a sleeve of yielding plastic.

The present invention has been described in detail by reference to afibre-tipped pen. It will be appreciated, however, that the invention isapplicable to other ink writing instruments, namely those whose writingtips are ball-points or conventional nibs.

I claim:

1. A writing instrument comprising: a body, a first ink reservoir wicktherein, a writing tip at one end of said body, said tip having aplurality of capillary passages in communication with said firstreservoir wick to receive ink therefrom, a second reservoir inside saidbody containing a reserve supply of ink for use when said first wick isexhausted, and means operatively associated with said second reservoirfor causing said second reservoir to discharge its contents into saidfirst reservoir wick, said means being a plunger element mounted in saidbody in a first position for movement relative thereto into a secondposition, and said second position indicating that said second reservoirhad discharged its content into said first reservoir wick.

2. A writing instrument according to claim 1, wherein said secondreservoir is a wick which is longitudinally slidable within said body,said wick being movable into contact with said first reservoir wick inresponse to actuation of said plunger element, thereby enabling its inkcontents to flow into said first reservoir by capillary action.

3. A writing instrument according to claim 1, wherein said secondreservoir is a wick which is immovably secured within said body, saidwick being spaced from an adjacent end of said first reservoir wick, andsaid second reservoir wick being compressible in response to actuationof said plunger element, whereby release and delivery of its inkcontents to said first reservoir wick is attained.

4. A writing instrument according to claim 1, wherein said secondreservoir contains ink under pressure and a sharp point is provided atthe inner end of said plunger element for penetrating said secondreservoir when said plunger element is actuated, whereby said secondreservoir bursts and releases its ink contents to said first reservoirwick.

5. A writing instrument according to claim 1, wherein said plungerelement is mounted for sliding movement in the end of said body remotefrom said writing tip.

6. A writing instrument according to claim 1, wherein said plungerelement is secured against inadvertent actuating movement in an initial,ready position thereof to prevent premature emptying of said secondreser- V0".

7. A writing instrument according to claim 6, wherein said plungerelement and said body include a mating groove and rib formation tosecure said plunger element against inadvertent actuating movement, saidgroove and rib being separable when a predetermined actuating force isapplied to said plunger element.

- 3,819,284 I 6 8. A writing instrument according to claim 6, wherein 9.A writing instrument according to claim 2, wherein said plunger elementis cemented in said body, the cethe fibre density of said firstreservoir wick is greater merit bond being rupturable when apredetermined acthan the fibre density of said second reservoir wick.tuating force is applied to said plunger element.

1. A writing instrument comprising: a body, a first ink reservoir wicktherein, a writing tip at one end of said body, said tip having aplurality of capillary passages in communication with said firstreservoir wick to receive ink therefrom, a second reservoir inside saidbody containing a reserve supply of ink for use when said first wick isexhausted, and means operatively associated with said second reservoirfor causing said second reservoir to discharge its contents into saidfirst reservoir wick, said means being a plunger element mounted in saidbody in a first position for movement relative thereto into a secondposition, and said second position indicating that said second reservoirhad discharged its content into said first reservoir wick.
 2. A writinginstrument according to claim 1, wherein said second reservoir is a wickwhich is longitudinally slidable within said body, said wick beingmovable into contact with said first reservoir wick in response toactuation of said plunger element, thereby enabling its ink contents toflow into said first reservoir by capillary action.
 3. A writinginstrument according to claim 1, wherein said second reservoir is a wickwhich is immovably secured within said body, said wick being spaced froman adjacent end of said first reservoir wick, and said second reservoirwick being compressible in response to actuation of said plungerelement, whereby release and delivery of its ink contents to said firstreservoir wick is attained.
 4. A writing instrument according to claim1, wherein said second reservoir contains ink under pressure and a sharppoint is provided at the inner end of said plunger element forpenetrating said second reservoir when said plunger element is actuated,whereby said second reservoir bursts and releases its ink contents tosaid first reservoir wick.
 5. A writing instrument according to claim 1,wherein said plunger element is mounted for sliding movement in the endof said body remote from said writing tip.
 6. A writing instrumentaccording to claim 1, wherein said plunger element is secured againstinadvertent actuating movement in an initial, ready position thereof toprevent premature emptying of said second reservoir.
 7. A writinginstrument according to claim 6, wherein said plunger element and saidbody include a mating groove and rib formation to secure said plungerelement against inadvertent actuating movement, said groove and ribbeing separable when a predetermined actuating force is applied to saidplunger element.
 8. A writing instrument according to claim 6, whereinsaid plunger element is cemented in said body, the cement bond beingrupturable when a predetermined actuating force is applied to saidplunger element.
 9. A writing instrument according to claim 2, whereinthe fibre density of said first reservoir wick is greater than the fibredensity of said second reservoir wick.